The Arrow Over the Door

From the Publisher
To fourteen-year-old Samuel Russell, called coward for his peace-loving Quaker beliefs, the summer of 1777 is a time of fear. The British and the Patriots will soon meet in battle near his home in Saratoga, New York. The Quakers are in danger from roaming Indians and raiders-yet to fight back is not the Friends' way. To Stands Straight, a young Abenaki Indian on a scouting mission for the British, all Americans are enemies, for they killed his mother and brother. But in a Quaker Meetinghouse he will come upon Americans unlike any he has ever seen. What will the encounter bring? Based on a real historical incident, this fast-paced and moving story is a powerful reminder that the way of peace can be walked by all human beings.

From the Critics
From Gisela Jernigan - Children's Literature  
It is the summer of 1777 in New York State, and we see events from the alternating perspectives of two teenage boys. Samuel is just beginning to question his pacifist Quaker heritage and Stands Straight, an Abenaki youth, sees all Americans as enemies because they killed his mother and brother. The story moves to a suspenseful climax, as the Quakers and Abenakis finally encounter one another at the Quaker Meeting House, and both boys are able to see each other as fellow human beings rather than enemies. An extensive author's note gives background information on the complexities of the historical period.
 
From School Library Journal  
Gr 4-6A thoughtful and eminently readable work. The story takes place during the summer of 1777 and is told in alternating voices by two young men from different cultures. Samuel Russell, a Quaker, wrestles with his faith's pacifism. He hates being called a coward by neighbors whose tolerance for the Quakers has been strained by their refusal to fight for independence. Stands Straight is an Abenaki whose family was killed by colonists. As British troops move toward Saratoga, he joins his uncle in a scouting party as the Abenaki try to decide which side to support. When the scouts reach the meeting house where the Quakers are worshipping, the two boys meet and each one grows as a result of the encounter. An author's note recounts Bruchac's research into the varying accounts of this true event and carefully notes any changes he made in his retelling. Full-page drawings in shades of gray fit the mood of the story without breaking the narrative flow. With a surprising amount of drama and even suspense, this tale of pacifism triumphant makes a good choice for historical fiction collections. Elaine Fort Weischedel, Turner Free Library, Randolph, MA